Thursday, October 25, 2012

I have decided to go back and document some of the wargames I fought while I was in Korea. Specifically two games in which I played as the Koreans (Koryo the first time and Choson the second).

The first game we looked to refight one of the battles the Koryo Dynasty fought against the Mongols during the First Mongol Invasion of Korea. This battle actually was an open field battle where neither side was on the defense. The normal tactic which the Koryo very quickly relied on was to hole up in their hill forts and wait for the Mongols to basically leave. Please forgive my poor translation of the text below and paraphrasing:

동선령전투 (Dongsanryeong Battle)
고려 고종 18년(1231) 9월 황해도 봉산군 동선령 일대에서 몽고군과 고려군 사이에 벌어진 전투.In the 18year of the Koryo King Kojong (13-14 September 1231AD) in Hwanghae Province, Bongsan Area, Dongsanryeong, there was a battle between the Mongol army and Koryo army. (Note: The Koryo capital at the time was in Kaesong directly south of the battle site and it was necessary to block the Mongol advance on the capital.)

이 해 8월 10일 압록강을 건너 함신진(의주)를 공격하여 11일 항복을 받아낸 몽고의 원정군은 함신진을 교두보로 하여, 군대를
남로군·북로군·본군의 3개로 재편하였다.On 10 August of
that year, (the Mongols) had crossed the Amnokgang River (present day
Yalu) and attacked Ouiju (Area of NW Korea), on the 11th they received a
surrender (from the locals Koryo defense) and the Mongol Expedition
established a bridgehead, and the Mongol Army was reorganized into three
spearheads (The South, The North and the Model Army??(probably the Main
Force).

이때 정주(靜州)-용주-철주-선주-곽주-정주(定州)를 거쳐 청천강을 넘어 안북부로
진출하였던 남로군은 9월 14일 황주를 거쳐 개경으로 향하여 동선령 북쪽 15리 지점까지 진출하였다. At that time, the Mongols had entered (Jeongju, Yeongju,Cheolju,Sanju, and another Jeongju) and finally advanced as far as the north side of the Cheongchongang (river). The Southern heading Force on September 19th was facing towards Kaesong then called Kaekyong and arrived about 15 Li(6 Km) north of Dongsanryeong.

동선령은 봉산과 황주의
경계를 이루는 고개로, 개성-평주-봉산-황주-서경의 길목에 있어 동선역이 설치되어 있는 교통의 요충지였다.Dongsanryeong consists of the boundary of Bongsan and Hwangju, and lays on the road connecting Kaesong to the northern cities and was a strategic position. (It was the most direct path to he capital)

갑자기 기습공격을 당한 고려군은 장군 이자성·노단 등이 부상을 입는 등 순식간에 큰 혼란에 빠졌다. 그러나 이때 동선령의 중군이
출동하여 몽고군을 공격하였으므로 몽고군은 후퇴하였다.
Suddenly the Koryo troops suffering the surprise attack, among the Generals there was a great amount of confusion. But then at the center of the Koryo troops there was mobilization and reorganization and forced the attacking Mongol troops to withdraw.
(Note: This first day was the battle we played out. I will translate the 2nd day some other time.)

The General became aware the next
day that couldn’t win the battle so changed his tactics andbuilt a wooden fence (palisade) fortified
camp그러나몽고군은다시공격해와서목책에불을질렀다. 그리고일부분의목책이다타버리자그사이로그들의타격부대인기병을투입하였다.But the Mongols
attacked again and lit fire to the palisade.And the part of the palisade was burnt down and so Korean Cavalry was
put into the fence gaps to block the Mongols.이에목숨을벗어던질각오를한산원이지무와이인식이이끄는너덧명의용사들이백병전으로겨우이들을물리쳤지만몽골군은계속목책을불태우며돌입기회를노렸다. 실로위기였다.